Astrazeneca: Tales From Vaccinated
THE arrival of long- awaited Coronavirus vaccines from reputable pharmaceutical companies across the world was greeted with a sigh of relief. The anxiety and depression brought about by COVID- 19 pandemic, with the resultant deaths and paralysis of world economies and other spheres of life, were simply crushing. One of the acclaimed vaccines was the Astrazeneca vaccine, manufactured by Serum Institute of India. Despite the initial acceptance and recommendation by relevant stakeholders, including the World Health Organisation ( WHO), among others, the Astrazeneca vaccine soon got enmeshed in controversies, with some countries opting to stop its administration on their people.
One of the reasons proffered for their action is that some persons that received the Astrazeneca jab experienced blood clot. The EU’S health authority and the WHO have maintained that the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh the risks, which probably explains why these European countries have resumed rolling out the Astrazeneca vaccine and are administering it on their citizens. Back home in Nigeria, after weeks of speculations and doubts among Nigerians on whether the country will secure the COVID19 vaccine, on March 2, 2021, the Federal Government finally took delivery of the first batch of nearly four million doses of Astrazeneca vaccine from COVAX. The 3.94m doses are part of the 16 million doses being expected from COVAX by the end of this year. The vaccine was shipped from Mumbai, India to Abuja. The Federal Government, through the Presidential Task force on COVID- 19, on March 5, 2021, flagged- off a national COVID- 19 vaccination programme at the National Hospital, Abuja after the vaccine was tested and certified to be effective and safe for use in the country by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC). A medical doctor, Cyprian Ngong, of the National Hospital Abuja, who has been treating COVID- 19 patients at the hospital’s isolation centre since the beginning of the fight last year, was the first Nigerian to receive the vaccine. Similarly, all state governors, aside Kogi State governor, have launched vaccination programmes in their states. This involved public vaccination of the state governors and strategic leaders to underscore the confidence in the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.
Due to the experiences from other climes on the effect of the Astrazeneca vaccine, there have been concerns that Nigerians should be cautious in administering the vaccine. But the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency ( NPHCDA), last Monday, said it has not received any official report of serious adverse effects from any of those that have been vaccinated. The agency explained that mild side effects, such as pains and swelling at the point of injection are expected, as normal with any vaccination, adding that the agency is working closely with NAFDAC to monitor any unusual adverse reactions to the vaccine. As the mixed feelings continue, some Nigerians that have taken the Astrazeneca jab share their experience.
Chief Nursing Officer at the National Hospital, Mrs. Faith Eragbai, the second Nigerian to be vaccinated